[center][h1][i]Monica & Maelite[/i][/h1][/center]
[hr]
She awoke from her horrors that haunted her in her dreams, and found herself in a new nightmare where fathomless shadows shrouded all, there was nothing except her broken body surrounded by shifting shadows whispering into her ears and creeping upon her skin. She could not flee, wracked with agony when she attempted to move even slightly. Every breath she drew was excruciating, and cold enough it seemed to choke her with ice coalescing in her throat. She felt as though she were sinking into the depths of darkness, where the chilling embrace of death awaited her.

Undulating pressure built upon her, the swarm of shadows nudging her into an upright position as though they were solid enough to support her. She could hear hissing, humming, and buzzing, but she could not see the sources of these eerie sounds which came from everywhere all at once. There was no shape or form to the world around her, yet the darkness distorted itself, and personified itself. It was curious and cunning, creeping forth as it seeped into the mind, strangling and suffocating thoughts, then smuggling such outside the shelter of the self. Monica could feel the slow shattering of her sanity, sundered and divided amongst the unseen.

The darkness became more and more languid as it devoured her, a sluggish gluttony that she could not fight against as frosty pain mingled with senseless fear caused her to ceaselessly spasm and shiver. There was no light, it seemed. There was no way to witness the passage of time, and so it felt like an eternity of torture, blind and alone in this dark and desolate realm that was the result of her efforts towards saving those she loved. Not knowing whether she had succeeded in her endeavor inflicted the most devastating damage to her heart, more brutal than being lost in darkness and torn apart. Monica cried, as more and more of her shape became blackened and she sensed the terrifying presence of something looming over her.

The clamor quieted, the hissing and buzzing all around hurried away, the horde of dissonant whispers abated by the immense dreadful aura that had now arrived. Monica awaited with held breath, attempting to discern what was happening through her hearing: Discrete clicks and clacks of numerous small skeletal feet scuttling about upon stone. The freezing air seemed to crack and hiss as an unseen vapor coalesced into ice only to break into tiny fragments upon becoming too large to sustain itself. Far away was the continual sound of rushing water, splashing against stone and crashing down ravines and along rivers. Unfortunately the colossus lingering close to her had become silent and still, undetectable to all of her senses.

Then she heard a voice, soft and soothing, as she was cradled in the gentle grasp of a giant creature, and carried away. She could not see that which held her, lifting her higher and higher until it came to a halt again, but she could feel its strength and sensed a connection to it as it murmured to her that she was found, and no longer alone. Together they traversed the umbral realm, through the oppressive darkness and hungry shadows, swift and silent like a specter in the night. Monica was aware they were traveling towards the node she had touched, the conduit of immense divine power that allowed a deity to shape and alter the land.

Upon reaching the location of the node, Monica saw the path of light that passed through the node itself, made of shimmering stones that were becoming stained with specks of black. It was evident that Benea had come through this way, surviving the encounter with the monstrosity and the following journey afterward, and though Monica could not discern which way Benea had gone, the sight of the luminous road brought forth an incredible amount of relief to her knowing now that her companion lived. Certain that Benea would return to find her, Monica thought it would be wisest to simply wait for either Benea, Xavior, or another to eventually appear and inform her of the most recent happenings in the world.

The giant ghost laid her upon the node itself, letting Monica see the silhouette of its hand. Tenderly placed down, Monica noticed that the parts of her body that had been consumed by shadows were regurgitated when the hand retracted, as if she were shedding a black layer to reveal her previous self underneath, whole and not molested, only harmed through her own foolish incident. She did not know how much time had passed, but her body had begun healing, her wings and arms mending themselves slowly but surely, and all throughout that time the unseen colossus remained nearby. They had spoken more, but both of them were rather reticent, and little was said. Monica had introduced herself, and expressed her gratitude. The colossus had introduced itself as [i]The Shepherd of Shadows[/i], and then it sang a sorrowful song that had lulled her into a peaceful slumber.

[hider=Summary]Monica awakes in isolation, suffering from her severe injuries and a frightening environment. As her mind is on the verge of madness, she is saved by a dark giant and brought to the node where she safely rests and recovers, awaiting the arrival of anyone else.[/hider]
[hider=Might]Monica expends 5 Might to create [i]The Shepherd of Shadows[/i]. A massive creature that dwells in the “darkness” created by Umbrium, it possesses the unique ability of suppressing sound around it, and acts as the living embodiment of Umbrium itself, granted sentience though the power of Monica.

Monica’s remaining Might: 0

[center][i]A depiction of what the Shepherd of Shadows is thought to look like...[/i]
[img]https://i.imgur.com/0VyK6aG.jpg[/img][/center]
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